The Governor has nothing to do with the federal funding on this issue, nor has he indicated he would reject any that came. In fact, the state has very little if any control over what happens in the lake itself.

Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

The irony here the Tea-party bought into Romney's categorization of Obama supporters (dems) as the people who want free stuff but in reality that is the Tea-party, they don't want to pay taxes but want all the govt programs they rely on.

Mikey1969:Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Mikey1969:Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Cataholic:The Governor has nothing to do with the federal funding on this issue, nor has he indicated he would reject any that came. In fact, the state has very little if any control over what happens in the lake itself.

Oh you and your knowledge of the separation of state and federal governments...

Mikey1969:Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Lake Okeechobee was a stopping point for water coming south from the Orlando area into the everglades. Since then, dams were built blocking the flow south so that the water could be used for agricultural irrigation and canals were opened going east and west allowing the water to connect to rivers going out to the ocean. They built a dam around the south end of the thing which failed back in the 20's killing thousands of people. Now, the dam is so old that when the lake level exceeds 15 feet, the Army Corps of Engineers opens the floodgates dumping too much fresh water into the coastal estuaries. Along the way, it gets polluted with runoff from other agriculture, yards, septic tanks, etc. In the past, the sugar cane fields south of the lake would take water out of it to flood their fields, and then pump it back into the lake after it became contaminated with fertilizers. Years of this resulted in a contaminated lake bottom that (when stirred up by hurricanes) exacerbates the fresh water discharges into the oceans and rivers. We had algal blooms as a result. Until the dam is fixed, and the water is allowed to flow back into the everglades as God intended, this problem will continue.

Scott also called on the Corps and other federal agencies to pour $1.6 billion into South Florida environmental projects - "which you owe the state," he wrote - under 50-50 cost-sharing agreements.

Scott made similar comments later Tuesday after touring a massive flood-control gate along the St. Lucie River where the Corps is releasing about three billion gallons a day from the rain-swollen lake to ease pressures on the aging, leaky dike. The dumping has lowered the lake by several inches in the past few weeks, but massive slugs of nutrients and sudden influx of fresh water have decimated rivers and estuaries on both coasts.

The Corps released a statement defending its work on the dike, which includes a recently completed $220 million project to shore up the most vulnerable 21-mile stretch of the massive earthen embankments and ongoing work to replace 32 culverts that more recent studies suggest are major weak points.

The Corps, said Jacksonville district commander Col. Alan Dodd, can only build what Congress authorizes and agrees to pay for.

Maud Dib:Mikey1969: Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Fertilizer runoff from agriculture. Mainly the sugar cane.

Nice... Thanks. Usually, they add at least that much to the article.

I guess it really is their own fault for electing him though...

TheBigJerk:Mikey1969: Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

To add to Maud Dib's explanation - the high nitrogen content of agricultural runoff from fertilizer as well as the fact that Floridians leak excessive amounts of fecal matter into the riverways through waterfront septic tanks combine to create a breeding ground for algae. When algae blooms, it coats the water with a layer of algae that looks like bright green muck. Usually, it also releases methane as the dead algae matter decays, so it also smells basically like farts around the areas where there is algae bloom.

Cataholic:Mikey1969: Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Lake Okeechobee was a stopping point for water coming south from the Orlando area into the everglades. Since then, dams were built blocking the flow south so that the water could be used for agricultural irrigation and canals were opened going east and west allowing the water to connect to rivers going out to the ocean. They built a dam around the south end of the thing which failed back in the 20's killing thousands of people. Now, the dam is so old that when the lake level exceeds 15 feet, the Army Corps of Engineers opens the floodgates dumping too much fresh water into the coastal estuaries. Along the way, it gets polluted with runoff from other agriculture, yards, septic tanks, etc. In the past, the sugar cane fields south of the lake would take water out of it to flood their fields, and then pump it back into the lake after it became contaminated with fertilizers. Years of this resulted in a contaminated lake bottom that (when stirred up by hurricanes) exacerbates the fresh water discharges into the oceans and rivers. We had algal blooms as a result. Until the dam is fixed, and the water is allowed to flow back into the everglades as God intended, this problem will continue.

Wow...

Just for the record... I'm not really a big fan of dams, there seems to be more and more downsides with every new dam you hear about...

To add to Maud Dib's explanation - the high nitrogen content of agricultural runoff from fertilizer as well as the fact that Floridians leak excessive amounts of fecal matter into the riverways through waterfront septic tanks combine to create a breeding ground for algae. When algae blooms, it coats the water with a layer of algae that looks like bright green muck. Usually, it also releases methane as the dead algae matter decays, so it also smells basically like farts around the areas where there is algae bloom.

Yeah, I guess I've seen algae blooms before, since I knew what it looked like, but never seen something that extensive... I can see how the smell would happen, too, although the only places I've seen that smelled that bad were stagnant ponds with no water circulation, not stuff like rivers. That sux.

Mikey1969:Cataholic: Mikey1969: Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Lake Okeechobee was a stopping point for water coming south from the Orlando area into the everglades. Since then, dams were built blocking the flow south so that the water could be used for agricultural irrigation and canals were opened going east and west allowing the water to connect to rivers going out to the ocean. They built a dam around the south end of the thing which failed back in the 20's killing thousands of people. Now, the dam is so old that when the lake level exceeds 15 feet, the Army Corps of Engineers opens the floodgates dumping too much fresh water into the coastal estuaries. Along the way, it gets polluted with runoff from other agriculture, yards, septic tanks, etc. In the past, the sugar cane fields south of the lake would take water out of it to flood their fields, and then pump it back into the lake after it became contaminated with fertilizers. Years of this resulted in a contaminated lake bottom that (when stirred up by hurricanes) exacerbates the fresh water discharges into the oceans and rivers. We had algal blooms as a result. Until the dam is fixed, and the water is allowed to flow back into the everglades as God intended, this problem will continue.

Wow...

Just for the record... I'm not really a big fan of dams, there seems to be more and more downsides with every new dam you hear about...

If you elect a Democrat or a liberal Governor who promises you everything government can provide and many things it isn't authorized to, don't be surprised when he snubs you when you ask for federal funding, because he doesn't have control of federal dollars and you're a dumbass for asking.

Tyee:If you elect a Democrat or a liberal Governor who promises you everything government can provide and many things it isn't authorized to, don't be surprised when he snubs you when you ask for federal funding, because he doesn't have control of federal dollars and you're a dumbass for asking.

Cataholic:The Governor has nothing to do with the federal funding on this issue, nor has he indicated he would reject any that came. In fact, the state has very little if any control over what happens in the lake itself.

Agreed, the lock or canal if you will would be considered a navigable waterway and under the purview of congress to fund.

MFAWG:Mikey1969: Cataholic: Mikey1969: Jesus, a little bit of context to the story would be nice... What's a"toxic algae bloom"? What is causing it? Why do you need federal funds? Why is it(apparently) recurring? Is it just a cycle, or is there a company polluting your river?

And perhaps, the most important contextual question of all: Why the fark did they elect Scott as governor?

Lake Okeechobee was a stopping point for water coming south from the Orlando area into the everglades. Since then, dams were built blocking the flow south so that the water could be used for agricultural irrigation and canals were opened going east and west allowing the water to connect to rivers going out to the ocean. They built a dam around the south end of the thing which failed back in the 20's killing thousands of people. Now, the dam is so old that when the lake level exceeds 15 feet, the Army Corps of Engineers opens the floodgates dumping too much fresh water into the coastal estuaries. Along the way, it gets polluted with runoff from other agriculture, yards, septic tanks, etc. In the past, the sugar cane fields south of the lake would take water out of it to flood their fields, and then pump it back into the lake after it became contaminated with fertilizers. Years of this resulted in a contaminated lake bottom that (when stirred up by hurricanes) exacerbates the fresh water discharges into the oceans and rivers. We had algal blooms as a result. Until the dam is fixed, and the water is allowed to flow back into the everglades as God intended, this problem will continue.

Wow...

Just for the record... I'm not really a big fan of dams, there seems to be more and more downsides with every new dam you hear about...

The West Coast frowns on your shenanigans.

That's the corps for ya. Spend decades draining the swamp, then spend decades restoring the swamp. With no apparent sense of irony or self awareness at all.Which explains how they get along so well with the republican power structure in Florida.

Lake. Okeechobee used to come out of its banks during the rainy summers and flood the whole southern end of the state. From a point south of Orlando south, rendering the whole area un-developable. This was unacceptable, so the ACE set about dyking the lake and creating the series of locks that cause so much trouble.The corps allows big sugar to dump its disgusting, polluted water into the lake, then gives them too much clean lake water when they ask for it. Then, whem the annual rains don't happen on schedule lake levels are waaay too low and insanely filthy.This has been going on for a hundred years now. At least.